Wild, thrill, festive, heritage, pristine and scenic – ask Nancy Kohli of Rabbaz – Wedding she will tell you how these worlds truly define the radiant charm of her recent trip to Shangri-La Hambantota, Sri Lanka. Overlooking the pristine southern coast of Sri Lanka, the resort has enough reasons to put you on the celebratory mode! This recent exclusive trip to Sri Lanka was organised by the luxury travel connoisseur, AartiThapa, Founder of www.weddingfables.com  and the PR whiz Atika Gupta of BrandsWeLove. 

Sri Lanka always finds a way to celebrate! Right from its stunning beaches, exotic cuisines, vibrant culture and eclectic wild life, Sri Lanka is one Southeast Asian country that has around eight Unesco World Heritage Sites packed in such a small area. A perfect amalgamation of cluttered cities and rural heartland, tropical forests and gleaming temples, ultramodern city scape and traditional Sri Lankan cuisine, the flavourful mood of Sri Lanka is surely irresistible – making it as one of the most sough-after wedding and special celebrations destinations for Indians specially.

Want to get married in Sri Lanka? Or simply want your birthday or anniversary celebration to get that luxury edge overlooking the scenic beaches? Then, don’t look anywhere beyond Shangri-La, Hambantota Golf Resorts and Spa. Here’s why:

1. A 53-acre and an 18-golf course Beach Destination Wedding Resort: Just enter this stunning property and you would be rubbing shoulders with palm tress (they are present any and everywhere you look!) and a jaw-droppingly beautiful golf course set right in front of the hotel. A former coconut plantation, this resort makes for perfect jaimala picture as the golden sand will kiss your feet and Indian Ocean will make for a perfect backdrop. However, if you opt for an indoor venue, where the Grand Ballroom can accommodate around 1,5000 guests at one point in time, or the stylish function room that can host intimate and close gatherings to perfection. All in all, consider this resort as a destination in its own right with the artisan village within the resort, fishing boats out at sea and drone-flying area, which can make for a memorable wedding experience. 

2. Style & Character of the property Exudes Luxury & Natural Charm:Want to find peacocks casually strutting between coconut trees, right when you have your Mehendi or Sangeet functions at the open lawns? Then head straight to the wind-packed and virgin South-eastern coast of Shangri-La, Hambantota, Sri Lanka. The best part about the hotel is that despite it being a large and open-air property, it feels intimate with local craftsmanship present throughout – right from handwovencoir rugs, artistic paintings, huge elephant sculpture at the reception to giant planters in angular shapes and intricate teak latticework. The walkways are wide with huge Balinese pots, gold-encrusted antique chest, bulky jackwood columns and 400-year-old terracotta tiles all over – a property for those who look forward to doing royal and larger-than-life weddings. All 300 luxury rooms and suites offer magnificent views of the golf course, the resort’s tropical gardens or the calm waves of the Indian Ocean.

3. Family Spirit &Activities Galore Keeping the Indian Family Spirit in Mind:The property has three pools: adult, family and children’s, the latter with a slide – a perfect option for poolsideMehendi or welcome lunch parties. Bikes are given for pedaling to the nearby temple and the windy, sandy beach is great for evening family dinners. One can also go for romantic riverboat safari or youngsters can hop on for a memorable whale-watching excursion. The kids can be kept joyous to the boot, thanks to the 23ft-high trapeze and trampoline. You can greet the sunrise with yoga before an Ayurvedic treatment at Chi, The Spa. There’s also a nine-hole golf course (rising to 18 in October) designed by Rodney Wright. 

4. A Property With Magnificence & Grandeur Amalgamated Together: It is truly a different wedding venue in many rights. Strategically located, it can easily fit it 750-775 guests making it a well-loved location for big, fat Indian weddings. But the beauty of the property is that it is so expansive and large that the tranquility of the resort is well maintained even when the whole resort is a buy-out. The resort is also surrounded with Asia’s most fascinating nature and wildlife sanctuaries, including the Yala, Udawalawe, Lunugamvehera and Bundala National Parks.

5. Lip-Smacking Food That Perfectly Caters to Indian Palate & Sensibilities:There are three restaurants here, including the main restaurant Bojunhala, where you can sample the very best of Sri Lankan cuisine, and Sera which is inspired by the hawker stalls of South East Asia;and steak house Ulpatha Restaurant & Bar – a snack bar, club house and two bars; including the Gimunhala Lounge Bar, where tapas, shisha and teas are served, complete the drinking and dining options. All three restaurants serve the best of fine dining, native Sri Lankan cuisine, modern international cuisine and Indian cuisine. They also serve the best of tailor-made dining experiences in beautiful settings throughout the resort.They can even allow caterers, family chefs and maharajas to fly all the way from India; making sure that your Indian food sensibilities are well taken care of.I highly recommend the red curry with vegetables and rice, traditional Sri Lankan string hoppers, mini meringues, mirror glazes and sweet edible flowers, that tasted as good as they looked. 

Note: The closest airport to Shangri-La Hambantota is Mattala (18 miles) with daily flights to Colombo. Opt for SriLankan Airlines and be rest assured that you will be offered with a great sense of space, wide sculptured ceilings, large windows with dimmers, indulgent in-flight entertainment and friendly and polite cabin staff. And yes, don’t let the journey time to Shangri La Hambantota {around 4 to 4.5 hours} from the airport put you off! En route from Colombo airport to Hambantota is like a mini tour of Sri Lanka. Just sit back, relax, look over rice paddies, glimpses of paradise beaches, tropical palms, fishermen perched on stilts and glimpses of paradise beaches.